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Where do I begin?! Since I returned from Interbike in Las Vegas, issue 6 of Yeah Zine was released and we premiered our trip DVD at Shakespeare’s Austin, the bar I work at to kick off one of the most bad ass contests of the year, Texas Toast! As soon as I got back from Vegas, had to remove one of the worst roommates I have ever had (a non-bmxer too ha!) and have been tied up helping out with the contest and hosting out of towners who came in for the event. Thankfully my new roommate kicks ass, and has been a pleasure to show around Austin and work next to on Toast ramps. Here’s Lindsay Hale, Utah snowbird in Austin, notorious for going backwards

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Home life has been a LOT easier and it’s been exciting to have my other roommate Navaz back in town for a minute, (even though I think he just left town to film stuff again!). I cleaned, repaired and sanitized the house as best I could before their arrival. It’s like a new beginning! Thanks to my close friends and family for helping me through that!

So the Texas Toast Jam which was only a few blocks away from our house, so Lindsay and I made it a point to go volunteer everyday we could that it wasn’t raining. A solid crew of volunteers, I got to use some power tools, radial saws, heavy duty nail guns, frame out some ramps and move tons of wood and debris around to get the lumber yard where it was being held ready to go! Such an exciting thing to be a part of!

My roommate Ryan Navazio, aka “Navaz” had a great weekend as well, it was his world premiere of the long awaited CULT video, “TALK IS CHEAP.” Here are some details about it on the ESPN website, (yeah it’s kind of a big deal): http://espn.go.com/action/bmx/blog/_/post/8486896/ten-things-cult-talk-cheap This video turned out amazing, I’m so proud of Navaz and all of our friends that had full parts in it! Congrats! I didn’t get to see the video at the premiere because I was bar tending but thankfully he hooked it up and let me watch it here at the house hehe.

Our Yeah Zine video premiere the night before CULT also at shakespeare’s was a great warmer upper for the toast crowd, and was received really well! Our friend Leo shot some pics up on his blog we’ve linked in our site here. Thank you Angie for kicking’ ass and editing this video, she just started school again back in Buffalo, NY but managed to finish editing this, and come down for the premiere with her Dad! Yeah Jerry! Nice to see the Marino family rolling deep 🙂 Our video is for sale now and it is only $5 you should pick up a copy of our DVD 😉 click http://yeahzine.bigcartel.com/ to order yours and maybe one for a girl you know..

Watch the trailer:

I was really excited to have so many friends came to town from all over, we had a tent full of Utah people in our yard, a few Clevelanders, a Colorado homie, an occasional car party of Floridians aka the “Banned!” crew and maybe some New Yorkers, PA kids and other people I sort of lost track. It was awesome, fun and also a little insane haha! Here are some photos from the weekend, even t hough I still had to bartend during yeah zine premiere and cult premiere I managed to enjoy some fun at home in between Toast jam riding playing tour guide and after parties:

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<;;- toast dirt course

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At some point I came home to Kyle Painter jumping off of our roof..

“Dorito’s” first time in Austin, also one of my favorite photos i ever shot..

Paul Radosevich getting “rad” at t-1

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t-1 sessions were deep! I’ve been trying to build endurance in my neck muscles and rock the full face a little more often so I can wear it for longer periods of time at the BMX racetrack thank you Troy Lee Designs!

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Other news I left out…hmm…happy birthdays to my mom and cousin meghan oct.15th! Denise Baca and her boyfriend Shane moved here from Colorado a few weeks ago, as well as our new friends Phil and Liz from Tampa, and Carl Espy (PA) and his wife Lauren from Utah. Austin is the place to be! Also, congrats to my BMX racing friend, Chris Williams and his new wife Ashley they got married during Texas Toast Weekend! Shout out! Goo..some sad news in the mix, RIP BMX racing Olympic medalist, legend and Texan, Kyle Bennett.

I recently got a fisheye lens and have been enjoying it at the new Pflugerville park. Here are some photos I shot with it:

“Hollywood” Jon, first time at pville, christening the vert wall

This pic rules..Stoney, saved his hat that blew off on his way up, good save!

speaking of which, our lawn mower broke down, and i ended up splurging for plastic pegs instead of buying a newer one to avoid getting kicked out of pflugerville, my first time running plastic, went with the Animal “butcher” pegs w/plastic sleeves. so far so good! hope it doesn’t rain much, our yard is huge and our lawn gets tall!

I’m sure there are so many things I didn’t get to put in this update!! Although I am enjoying myself here in Austin, I really do miss my family back in NY so much! Thank you so much for shipping me some of Grandpa’s items, the TV is killer! Been having mini video premiere’s and movie nights galore. And the copper tea kettle from Colombia, used daily. Thanks again xoxoxo I am working hard to save some $ to make it back for Christmas.

In the meantime…keep shredding, stay healthy and don’t forget to stay “up!” smiles are contagious!

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;Russ Barone got a “smiley face” tattoo on our outdoor couch from his girlfriend Lauren, via Cult teammate Trey Jones’s tattoo gun. Yikes! I may or may not have tattooed Trey’s leg as well. Ha!! Enjoy the parting shot